Popular with trail runners, dog walkers and weekend trampers, this corner of Mount Richmond Forest Park is absolutely stunning and just a short drive from Nelson. It’s also got a gnarly Grade 4+ mountain biking track!
The Wakamarina Valley is rich in gold mining history, so you’ll find some fascinating sites and ruins on the way to Devil’s Creek Hut. The cute red hut (6 bunk) is located in a grassy clearing that is just perfect for pitching a tent. Visit the historic Devil’s Creek hut just behind the existing hut - spooky! - and take a stroll to explore some old stone ruins not far away.
If you’re taking a four legged friend make sure to organise a DOC permit beforehand, and ALWAYS check the Marlborough District Council site for road closures before you go.
Let’s look at route options:
Butcher’s Flat Campsite
6.3km +479m -372m
Just 1 hour 17 minutes from Nelson, this route has the shortest drive and tramp access, and is very well marked. There are a few creek crossings on the drive in; a 2WD vehicle would be fine as long as it’s got some clearance. The track starts at Butcher’s Flat Campsite and meanders through lovely, lush native bush. You’ll reach the turnoff to Doom Creek Track - an awesome 4.3km loop that follows a narrow gorge past historic gold workings and traverses a pretty scenic bridge! The main track continues to follow the Wakamarina River before reaching the hut.
Wakamarina Track
14km +1105m -1455m
If you’d prefer to traverse the entire Wakamarina Track, you can spend the night at Devil’s Creek Hut and keep heading southeast towards Fosters Hut. Note that the track can be steep and rough between these two huts. There’s an option for a side trip up Mt Baldy (1315m), which starts from Fosters Clearing. There is no official track to the summit, though an unmaintained route is often used by Outward Bound. The track ends at Kiwi Road which is in pretty dire straits after the crazy weather we’ve had! Definitely worth checking conditions with MDC before you commit.
Mt Royal/Quartz Creek
12.5km +1376m -1332m
The chunkiest route out of the three, but well-worth the extra vert if you’re a sucker for a mountain-top view! The track starts at Quartz Creek Flat at the end of Bartlett’s road, just a 1 hour 45 minute drive from Nelson. Due to flood damage, the first 4km of the route is a mix of old 4WD track or creek bed, with orange markers indicating the crossing points. We’d recommend taking a spare pair of dry shoes to put on when you reach the “Mt Royal Summit - 3 hours” sign!
From here the track climbs quite steeply through beech forest to a saddle (1100m). There is a clearing suitable for camping at the bushline, with the summit just a short scramble away along the rocky tops. Continue down the north face of Mt Royal to reach the hut.
